I spent $2.30 and all I got was a 2 1/2 hour Metro ride!

Metro Metro, how I hate thee, let me count the ways. Oh wait, I can't, it's impossible, there are too many ways I hate you.
So yesterday I get on the Metro at 5:20. I ride the Blue line from Farragut West to Braddock Road. Normally, my commute door to door is less than an hour. Yesterday, it took 2 1/2 hours, thanks to a broken train.

The train broke down conveniently in the tunnel, under the Potomac between Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn. That tunnel is a single track only, meaning both Orange and Blue lines share the track in both directions, which is why there are always so many delays between those two stations. Luckily in our car, the rear one, the A/C was still working, apparently it wasn't in one of them. We waited thirty minutes, while being told every two minutes our wait was almost over, for another car to come and tow us out. The Orange line was stuck directly behind us because of it.



Finally we arrived in Rosslyn and had to get off the train. The overpacked Orange Line was directly behind us and had to wait an additional 10-15 minutes for our train to leave the platform so it could unload. While we waited on the platform, we were told (angrily) that we needed to leave the platform and go upstairs, because more passengers would be getting off on it and the platform was too full. Both the lower level and upper level platforms were full.



Shortly afterwards we were told that shuttle busses were going to take us to the next stations, the ones we were just told were in the problem areas. Then the voice on the loudspeaker told us that the shuttle busses weren't coming and, "I don't know if this is true or not, its a rumor I heard from Central, but the train service will resume shortly. I don't know how true it is." After hating her previous anger filled announcements, I decided I liked our announcer. At least she wasn't trying to sugar coat things by telling us our wait was almost over.
I decided to stay where I was and just wait it out. Finally trains showed up. I am so happy I don't ride the Orange line because as always, those trains were overcrowded, and those people were gonna have to wait several trains before they would be able to get on. Its just the Blue line always seems to have delays.



After 3 packed Blue line trains passed, I decided to move up the platform and get on a train. Much to my surprise, the car I got on was almost empty, with available seats too. I got on that train at 7 pm. It arrived at Braddock Road at 7:20.
Walking home across the field, I noticed that the shopping cart that I had photographed in the football field a couple weeks ago moved. I guess it likes the shade more.

Metro Fairy

Normally I don't think that I have the most interesting commute, that is until I decide to photograph it. Then interesting things happen. Last Friday I was coming home on the Metro after gathering audio for the Crow, when I saw this interesting concoction. Feathers. Feathers and peacock feathers too! Turns out these two ladies and a gentleman (not pictured) were on their way home from a photo shoot on the Mall. From what I gathered, the lady in black was supposed to be Icarus.



Normally this is my standard view of my Metro commute. It never seems to change for 26 or more minutes, twice a day, 5 times a week.



Walking back from the Metro I have to go through an athletic field at this school. The other day I saw some dude sleeping under a blanket, except I wasn't too sure if there was someone under the blanket, and if there was, I wasn't too sure if he was sleeping or dead. I didn't check, I was late for work. Later on that day, coming home I saw a cop talking to the guy. I think the guy left behind this, because it seems to have been there ever since:



Despite this rare occurence in my otherwise boring commute, I consider myself to live in a very odd neighborhood that sometimes borders on the surreal. In fact, the above picture probably could have been included in this essay I did about two years ago. Its on my old website that I don't bother to update anymore. I now have a new website which doesn't include that essay.

In other news tomorrow I'm up on the Hill covering Sara Taylor testifying before the Senate Judiciary on the firing of 8 federal prosecutors. That is if she testifies. Bush invoked his executive privilege. Yawn. This behavior from the White House has become so predictable. I can't wait to see what the Code Pink Ladies will be doing for this (not).